Let's Steal Some Stuff! (TGU/Open)

She was cornered. And the kitchen was starting to feel REALLY, really small. eeeeppp. She wasn’t typically a claustrophobic person but…

Her hands smoothly gathered the coffee ingredients, as she finished making a fresh batch, keeping her eyes glued to the process and not lifting to meet Kassey’s gaze.

Maybe if I don’t move she won’t see me? haha

Bringing out a bottle of brandy, she clunked it down on the counter, she had expertly maneuvered between Kassey and herself, bringing down two glasses. “People like what?” Her eyes finally lifted as she looked over Kassey’s shoulder at the closed door. “They’re not that bad, besides barfs-a-lot. Right?”

Her eyes made contact with Kassey’s face and she mentally cringed again. Okay, maybe not the best thing to say. She poured brandy in the two glasses and placed them both in front of Kassey. “And didn’t you tell me your ship was one of the safest places to be?” Her voice was weak as she spoke that last sentence, even though true she knew it was a losing argument.

Dear god, now she needed a drink. Mentally, she prepared for Kassey’s response.

Kassey was giving Tahira a very level stare as she got the drinks. No, Kassey didn't even care about the brandy. In fact, she chuckled inside of her head watching Tahira poured two glasses. And then she asked about the people. "Aren't that bad? I have two bounty hunters, an ex-Imperial Grand Admiral, a Black Sun Rogue Leader, a man that's killed more times than we can count, a klutz, a blind slicer, a mercenary..and yes, barfs-a-lot. So, you be the judge of the scum of the galaxy.."

But in all seriousness...Kassey cracked a smile. "THESE are the people you got roped up into.." She chuckled on the outside now, and took a glass of the brandy, and that's when Tahira said something that Kassey wasn't expecting..

“And didn’t you tell me your ship was one of the safest places to be?”

Was she using my words against me..?

Kassey stopped in midsip and then cleared her throat. In fact, she needed to put the glass down to narrow her eyes. A few things came to mind on what to say, but most of them were harsh or didn't make too much sense, so Kassey just smiled again. "Yes...and I also told you to listen to me..or die. And I believe I said to stay on Naboo..and I ALSO told you that you needed to give me an update on your movements....does any of this ring a bell..? Hmmm?"

His fists were clenched. Where he didn't do anything before, he'd do something now. Right now. Time to make a difference.

Where that blue-faced fiend had gone, Delek would find him. No-one got away with treachery under the oath of contract. While Delek could be held accountable for deserting the Empire, there were valid reasons involved. But in situations like this, the only motives that can be excavated are greed and a lack of concern for others. Even in piracy, consideration of the victim is essential. Everyone does things differently, but Delek wouldn't be able to live with leaving someone to die unless there was reason to; but those reasons would not include the desire to snatch belongings that were essentially not his own.

Galen had threatened to kill on that ship. That was good enough to do it.

Tania would know where he was, hopefully. He could rely on her, right?

"Tania." He said down the commlink. "Any ideas where Galen might be?" He didn't reveal any more information for the moment. With the aftermath of a boiling situation, he'd keep his intentions quiet unless quizzed about them.

"Speaking of bells," she spun around and grabbed a mug, pouring some of the liquid into the cup. Gripping it with both hands, she kept her gaze focused on the liquid inside the mug.

Maybe if I close my eyes Kassey won't see me? Fail.

Her eyes flicked up, hesitantly, "Yes.........you did," she drawled. "I didn't realize everyone, all these people," holy kriff an ex-grand admiral and black sun rogue leader and...and..."were going to be on board?" Her voice turned up an octive in a hopeful quesiton.

Okay, time to level.

Placing the mug down, her hands gripped the counter as she made eye contact with Kassey. "I'm here now, right? Maybe I can help..." her voice was hopeful.

Galen of course was sitting in the corner of the lounge, his feet kicked up onto the hologame table. In his hands was his datapad where Galen was once again reading the specs on different ships. He had long ago decided what ship he would trade his piece of junk in once he'd saved the credits, but always the finicky one Galen was none the less weighing the pros and cons. He only looked up for one brief moment at Delek's back before looking back down at the screen. Oh boy, let the games begin.

"I am sure you can answer that for yourself if you but turn around Mr. Wrentar."

Kassey sighed a little and then she looked up to her. "Yea...they're all here." She said in a solid tone. But then again, looking back, Kassey couldn't blame Tahira. When she was in hiding on Coronet with Akoma..however wonderful it was to be with him..she didn't like being in one place, on one planet...and then Tahira was in one house..

But then, also, Kassey had to think about this situation..and she thought maybe it was time that she knew why Kassey was more protective than most. "Listen..." She started and then get her glass down to the side. "I know..it really...well, it sucks staying in one place. I get that..but..I've been here...I've done this...but I was on the other side. I know how to infiltrate someone who was undercover..I know the ins, the outs, the specs, I know what there is to know about how to do...what I am PREVENTING others to do to you.." She raised her eyebrows. "Get it?"

Kassey had done this...and she succeeded..so she needed to do everything she could in order to prevent others from doing it to her..and she needed Tahira to understand that.

Kassey rubbed her temples, and then grabbed the other glass of brandy. "Okay..it's different...VERY different between the ship and the safe house. Not a single soul knows about the safe house..it was a recent gift from a friend of mine for the wedding. But the ship...okay...EVERYONE knows about my ship." She said in a steady tone.

"The Fair Jewel...this XS Stock Light Freighter, this very ship you are on has been mine since I was 2....If anyone knows me, they know my ship.." She leaned in closer. "And if you recall, I have 100,000 reasons why someone would be looking for me. Not to mention the fact that I have others who want my blood, not the money. So please...I'm begging you..bear with me on some of the details is to why I would prefer you to be in the safe house rather than the ship."

But she has a point...this ship is safe....VERY safe.

"I know you feel useless..." She said, agreeing with Tahira, and then Kassey took a sip of her brandy. She never did this before...babysitting duties..at least, that's how she thought of it in a way. "So...I guess I am not THAT mad that you are on the ship..we just cannot make the connection between ME..and YOU. If they find out that I am the one hiding you? You might be in more trouble than hiding."

She figured that maybe one day...SOON...Tahira would need to stay away from certain people...and she would need to give her names, alias, and last known address...

She pressed her lips into a thin line as she listened to Kassey, trying not to smile as she took that second glass of brandy. Good thinking Jo. Don’t get too proud of yourself, you still in thick, mentally she chided herself.

“Okay, so keep my distance from you. Check. But I’m on YOUR ship now. What do you want me to do? It would be too suspicious if I denied knowing you after….I said you hired me as the new medic.” She stammered a little, knowing she dug her own grave. Idiot, idiot…but it WAS a solid story and it did make SENSE.

“And have you ever thought,” she took up the coffee once again, taking a sip and peeking over the top of the cup at her warden, “that you’re the one that needs protection?”

"No, no..." she said to Tahira with a smile. "You on my ship as a medic...hired by me is just fine. It all fits with your background. But as for details..? Keep them short and sweet...we don't know anything personal. You're just a medic, like Nik lives here...how Akoma's daughter pops in, and Rok travels with us...just a live in."

Kassey nodded and then she thought abou Tahira said...about how Kassey was the one that needed protection.

"The worst...is over and done with. I think, when it comes to the grit of it all, I am small game. The best part about being in this business is that you make friends in low places...and it just so happens to be one of the top bounty hunters is my brother in law...and the other is my best friend. Plus Akoma is ex-military..with his training and my security..the only people I have to worry about...is close personal ones that have something against me. And I think I've dealt with the bad ones, already.."

She nodded slowly, mentally absorbing everything Kassey told her. ALL the details! Whew…with no notes this was going to be interesting. Time to woman up!

Small game, eh? “Kassey, I hope for all our sakes, you’re right. So…are you really dropping everyone off at Tatooine? Or, are we hitting up any more ships on the way?” Her voice was a little eager mixed with anxiousness. She wanted, no needed to be there, to feel useful. But she was also worried about coming up against her own moral code. Could Tahira Solo REALLY steal from someone?

But it wasn’t Tahira Solo, it was Josephine March…a very very small voice argued in the back of her mind.

She looked over to Tahira and smiled. "Dropping everyone off. I just had some Jedi use her little...voodoo magic you use and slammed me up against the wall, same with Nik, actually made him BLEED...I had a bounty hunter threaten to take her on my ship, requested half of these gems that we acquired, which will cost me a good bit, and then aimed his blaster at me..Oh, did I mention barfs-a-lot??" She shook her head slightly and then sighed.

"Long day.." She muttered under her breath and took a sip of her drink. "Besides...I am not hitting up anymore ships now that I know you are...wait a second, how did you actually GET on this ship without me or Akoma knowing?"

A frown crossed her lips as her doctor face took over. Setting her mug down, she looped around the counter, coming to Kassey's side, checking her back.

"Are you okay, does it hurt when I press here?" Her tone changed too as she took on the doctor-to-patient role. Her hand pressed gently into Kassey's upper back, opening her healer senses through the force to sense and see any muscle damage or even bruising.

"And y'know," she shrugged, her gaze flicking to the back of Kassey's head before returning to her spine. "I sort of...used jedi voodoo magic to sneak on board and then hid in the first place I could find?" Her voice raised an octive at the end as if her statement was a question.

"Speaking of, why do YOU have so many shampoo bottles on board?" This time it was a real question as she struggled to keep the grin from her face.

"OW!" Kassey exclaimed when she touched her back. "No..it doesn't...well..it doesn't A LOT..Don't worry, I've been much worse.."

She shrugged and then when Tahira asked about her shampoo bottles, she swore she felt her eye twitching. "Oh..yea, that..well, I mean....you never know when you will run out. And it's not JUST shampoo! There are soaps and bath salts and conditioners. You can never be too stocked up on all of that. Believe me, one day you will need soap, but that day won't be on the Jewel.." She chuckled and then felt her back ache again.

"And......as for the voodoo magic? Yea, let's refrain from using that around me, and I think we'll be golden." She smiled and then nodded to her again. "Anyway..I am just looking out for you...we need to keep you safe."